MOVIES WAY BACK WHEN: A Barbed-Wire Accident

By Betsy J. Green

William Russell, “Flying A” leading man, was riding a horse that made an unfortunate decision. Russell “was riding a fiery bronco in a scene, and the ‘hoss’ . . .  decided to make a hurried charge [through some barbed wire], unseated Mr. Russell, who saved his neck by placing his two athletic arms in front of his face, but not without seriously cutting himself,” and developed blood poisoning as a result.

“At last accounts, Russell was on the road to recovery.” – New York Clipper, June 26, 1915

Betsy’s Way Back When book — Movies & Million-Dollar Mansions — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the seventh book in her series on the history of Santa Barbara. Learn more at betsyjgreen.com​.